Whether or not the 65-year-old Italian wants the 82-year-old Briton's job, he admits to thinking the Ecclestone era should be over.

"I hope for Bernie and F1 that nothing will happen," Montezemolo, referring to the possibility Ecclestone will be formerly charged over the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribery scandal, told the Independent.

"If Bernie is accused under process, I think he will be the first to give a step back in the interests of formula one. This could be bad for F1."

As for Ecclestone's long reign over the sport, he continued: "The era of the one man show cannot continue: we are slowly approaching the end of a period characterised by the style of one man who has done significant things."